Ghana's 2027 budget: all small-scale gold to be refined at home by 2028, raw bauxite exports to end by 2030
Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson set targets to keep more of the value of Ghana's minerals in the country, backed by a US$1.5 billion programme.
Accra — Ghana plans to refine at least 70% of its artisanal and small-scale gold at home by December 2027, and all of it by December 2028, when exports of raw small-scale gold will be banned.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson announced the targets on Thursday, 12 November, as he presented the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament.
"At least 70 per cent of artisanal and small-scale gold will be refined locally by December 2027," he said.
Manganese, bauxite and lithium too
The plan is part of a US$1.5 billion investment to build an industrial minerals economy around manganese, bauxite, lithium and gold. Ghana aims to process at least half of its manganese and bauxite locally by the end of 2028, and all of it by 2030, when raw exports of both will stop. Bauxite processing is meant to support alumina refining and aluminium smelting.
For lithium, the government wants to start with local refining and move on to battery-grade chemicals, components and cells.
Measured by what stays in Ghana
Dr Forson said the investment would be judged by the value retained in the country, export earnings per tonne, skilled jobs created, the share of Ghanaian suppliers, technology transferred and environmental performance. He also announced a 24-hour critical minerals processing enclave in the Western Region.
Source: MyJoyOnline, 12 November 2026.
